Simple question: Is this current (4th) edition's Red Box good? I have only heard good things about, but I want to make sure.

At my college, they are offering a Boffer (foam weapons :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foam_weapon) fighting class next semester for P.E. credit. A friend of mine is excited to take it, but she doesn't know anything about roleplaying. I offered to DM a Dungeons and Dragons 4th ed. game with her and a couple friends to introduce her to the concept.

What I'm planning to do is to run her and a couple others through the Ravenloft board game first to introduce the basic mechanics (she doesn't feel comfortable with all the numbers). After that, I 'm thinking of getting her the Red Box to look at rather than throwing the Player's Handbook(s) at her right away.

What do you all think? And I don't need to hear about how bad 4th ed. is, or how great this other RPG is. I don't have time to pickup another RPG over break.

The Red Box is really great, it has everything you need to get them playing right away. The character creation process is very streamlined and simple, but is limited to only four classes and races. The encounters in the box are also pretty good, and aren't overly simple or overly complicated.

My wife purchased it for me last Christmas and we played through it with no experience what so ever fairly well.

“I would rather have a good plan today than a perfect plan two weeks from now.” - General George S. Patton

It's perfect for people who have no previous experience with DnD. Very limiting with what {C's can do but this is an intro not the full game. If your players like it then I'd say go ahead and pick up some books and get a full party going.